Uber suspends driver accused of 'abuse' by actresses Tara Strong and Rena Sofer
Uber has suspended a driver after actresses Tara Strong and Rena Sofer accused him of abuse because he allegedly behaved erratically after learning that they were Democrats.
On Tuesday, Strong, who has done voiceover work for films such as Ice Age and Rugrats, tweeted a video of her ride with General Hospital actress Sofer. “Dear Uber, your driver almost killed Rena Sofer & I because we are Democrats,” she wrote. “He asked what we were doing & proceeded to scream & yell at us & say we were evil racist demon-crazy lefties. We told him we wanted to get out & he began driving erratically. We video taped his abuse”
Dear @Uber your driver almost killed @RenaSofer & I because we are Democrats. He asked what we were doing & proceeded to scream & yell at us & say we were evil racist demon crazy lefties. We told him we wanted to get out & he began driving erratically. We video taped his abuse pic.twitter.com/7cnyDSnvwN
— tara strong (@tarastrong) November 6, 2018
Sofer also noted the irony of the driver’s opinions: “But here’s the thing. He is an immigrant who showed up at the border in the ’80s and then applied for immigration status. Today, he would have been kicked out WITHOUT his children! And we are demons?”
THREAD 1 This election is so critical!! @tarastrong and I just escaped from an angry @realDonaldTrump loving @Uber driver who invaded our private conversation and called us Evil, brainwashed and lefty demons. He started driving erratically until we got him to let us out!! But…
— Rena Sofer BoycottNRA (@RenaSofer) November 6, 2018
Thread 2 here’s the thing. He is an immigrant who showed up at the border in the 80’s and then applied for immigration status. Today he would have been kicked out WITHOUT his children! And we are demons?? @Uber is this ok with you?? Your driver was out of line!!
— Rena Sofer BoycottNRA (@RenaSofer) November 6, 2018
In the video, the driver said to the women, “You are racist. The lefties have a mental disorder.”
“Maybe you should pull over,” said Strong. “You’re a terrible driver.”
After the driver said “lefties have mind control,” Sofer claims he interrupted their private conversation. “And you’ve been attacking us and insulting us the entire time,” she said. “You sound like Trump’s mouthpiece.”
The driver told the women they “ruined America,” and they replied, “We ruined America? We are American. We were born here.”
The women order the driver to drop them off at the nearest gas station, with Strong threatening to get the man fired for his behavior. Sofer added, “We’re not getting you fired because we don’t think like you. We’re getting you fired because we hired you as an Uber driver and you’ve done nothing but yell at us and insult us.”
People following the Twitter thread asked why the driver called the women racist at the beginning of the clip and Strong responded that the initial seven minutes of the conversation were recorded but not shared. “Then show whole video or nothing at all!!” someone tweeted, while others demanded proof.
“We didn’t start this! We never even brought up Donald Trump at all,” tweeted Sofer. “His first gripe with us was hearing us say this is the most important election of our time and he said he’s heard that every election. Then he asked why and preceded to yell at us! We kept asking him to stop!”
We didn’t start this! We never even brought up @realDonaldTrump at all. His first gripe w us was hearing us say this is the most imp election of our time n he said he’s heard that every election. Then he asked why and preceded to yell at us! We kept asking him to stop! @Uber https://t.co/NCkgEiKvgi
— Rena Sofer BoycottNRA (@RenaSofer) November 6, 2018
Strong and Sofer did not respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment.
A representative of Uber sent a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle: “Our expectation is that riders and drivers respect each other’s differences. Disparaging language and discrimination are never OK. We are in touch with the riders and will take the appropriate action.” The rep also said the driver’s access to the car-share service has been temporarily removed while the situation is investigated.
We absolutely want to take a closer look. Please send us a DM with your email address so we can follow up.
— Uber Support (@Uber_Support) November 6, 2018
Strong also tweeted to President Trump that “one of your crazy sycophant followers…almost killed” the women, an accusation which, perhaps needless to say, was passionately debated on Twitter.
Hey @realDonaldTrump 1 of your crazy sycophant followers, an @Uber driver almost killed @RenaSofer & when he found out we’re Democrats. He shouted your vile hatred that #Soros paid for the #caravan & that #transgender is a mental disorder,his neighbor @benshapiro told him so too
— tara strong (@tarastrong) November 6, 2018
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Trump supporter calls 911 on black Lyft driver for not turning on the radio
Woman accused of threatening black women in Charlotte is missing, police say
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